When we know that today, we complain because a game is not translated into French when it arrives here, and rightly so, we are still far from the early 90s. The pearls of the Famicom Unfortunately, very few Japanese ones arrived here. The series illustrates this problem very well: adored and essential in Japan, the license has a lot of difficulty establishing itself here, perhaps because of its very late arrival and the place it has taken in the hearts of Western players the juggernaut that is Final Fantasy, launched here on PS1 with FF7.
There was a time, long before our era
Since the PS2 era, we have had the pleasure of seeing (almost) every Dragon Quest opus at home, often translated, but the fan base remains discreet despite great fervor. Perhaps this is where the release of DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D REMAKE. Under an HD-2D engine mastered by Square Enix from A to Z, especially on Nintendo Switch, the remake of this major opus in the Enix series gives itself the means to convince even more players to dive into the series. Dragon Quest still has 11 main games, including the X MMO, and more than 88 million sales since its debut in 1988 in Japan (1989 in the USA under the name Dragon Warriors). It is also Akira Toriyama's inimitable touch on character design, a constant in the series and its charm throughout the years.
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Announced a few years ago, a century in the world of video games, this new opus is no longer an Arlesian today, it is even announced on our consoles for November 14, on the eShop as in stores . We had the chance and privilege to be invited to Square Enix to test the Nintendo Switch (and PS5) version of the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUm7LECQi-Y
Before we talk about the remake, let's talk about the base game: Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation is a role-playing game (RPG) developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix (now Square Enix). It was originally released in Japan in 1988 for the Famicom console (known as the Nintendo Entertainment System outside of Japan) and was later ported to several other platforms. For completeness, here are its platforms below:
- Super Famicom (1996) : This version has been overhauled with improved 16-bit graphics, an updated user interface, and additions like additional scenes and gameplay improvements.
- Game Boy Color (2000) : This portable version includes the improvements of the Super Famicom version with specific additions such as a “Monster Medals” mode and the ability to transfer medals between players via the Game Boy link cable.
- Smartphones (2009 and 2014) : Versions for iOS and Android have been released, allowing new generations to discover the game. A version adapted for Japanese mobile phones with graphics and gameplay adapted to small screens.
- Wii (2011) : Included in the “Dragon Quest 25th Anniversary Collection” compilation, this version is essentially a port of the Famicom and Super Famicom versions, playable on the Wii.
- Nintendo 3DS (2017) : An improved version combining the graphics and features of previous re-releases, with additional options to improve the gaming experience.
- PlayStation 4 (2017) : Includes improved graphics, gameplay tweaks and modern features suitable for home consoles.
- Nintendo Switch : The game has been re-released for the Nintendo Switch with modernized graphics and improvements. It is above all a port of the mobile version mentioned just above, of which we have made a test available right here.
Come discover Dragon Quest, we don't just have cookies
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D REMAKE is not just a simple graphics update. The game remains faithful to the original, but offers many QOL improvements. It is designed for veterans of the series, but also for new players who will discover the saga via this opus. We are promised new and modernized features, as well as a reworked story. The game invites players on a fantastic adventure to save the world from darkness.
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Among the improvements that we have noticed, we find a minimap with the objectives (displayable or not) and quest points for those who don't like to get lost too much. A nice overhaul of the equipment menus and items makes handling much more acceptable. A tutorial is also added via pop-ups which can be removed quickly. In terms of combat, we will note a modification of the difficulty to reduce the original difficulty curve which was rather poorly constructed. The ability to increase the speed of combat is also a more than pleasant addition. To finish talking about the new features of the combat system, in keeping with the times, we can almost completely automate decision-making, like what was offered in the last Dragon Quest Monsters released last December.
From what we have been able to observe, there is no (or little) modification to the story. As we all noticed with the official trailer, there's no need to write too much about it: the graphics of this HD-2D remake are magnificent and do justice to the Nintendo Switch and the original game, which is found sublimated. On the music side, it is also a delight for the ears, the whole having been re-orchestrated by Kōichi Sugiyama, performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO), one of the most prestigious orchestras in Japan, founded in 1965. This orchestra is renowned for its musical excellence and performances in various musical genres, including classical, contemporary and, significantly, video game music. TMSO is already involved in numerous symphony concerts dedicated to video game music, such as the “Symphonic Game Music Concerts” and “Press Start – Symphony of Games” concert series.
To talk about the story of this opus, or rather the beginning of the story: several years ago, the great hero Ortega said goodbye to his wife and child to accomplish his mission of annihilating the Archdemon Baramos. But he failed, and the evil threat still hangs over the world. On his sixteenth birthday, Ortega's only child is summoned by the King of Aliahan for a mission of the utmost importance: to resume his father's quest to defeat Baramos and save the world. Alongside the band of companions selected at the start of the game, players will enter the vast HD-2D world of Dragon Quest III, full of towns, dungeons and caves, where they will meet fascinating and unforgettable characters , as well as a swarm of ferocious monsters.
Love doesn't just last 3 years
More than a love letter to the JRPG genre DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D REMAKE offers fans the opportunity to relive a valuable and enhanced experience, while providing an ideal starting point for those discovering one of the most influential RPG franchises in video game history.